The last two weeks, we're spent waiting and wondering when she was going make her appearance. My mom was here helping me get ready and then my Dad and sister came last week hoping baby would come early. Doctor and nurses all said she would come early but she surer showed us.
At my 39 week appt, I was still 1 cm and not showing any signs of progress and at my 40 week/due date appt, I was still at 1 cm. My OB stretched and stripped my membranes at that appointment and then scheduled me for induction the next morning, the 15th.
Well, all day on Thursday, the 14th after my OB appt, I was having contractions.. It was nothing new. I had been having contractions for so long before that, but these contractions were closer together but still not consistent. At about 8:30pm, I was laying the couch trying to time contractions while watching tv. I felt a pop and then THE gush. I jumped up off the couch, told my mom my water had broken. While I stood in the kitchen gushing fluid (you all are welcome for the image), Greg got our bag and cat seat and I got cleaned up enough to get in the car to head to hospital.
Once we got to the hospital, we went to labor and delivery triage where I was hooked up to the monitors and got blood drawn. The doctor on call told me that I could start pitocin or walk around to try to get my cervix dilated since I was still at 1cm. I opted for the pitocin since either way I was going to end up with it. (And that's the medication I would have gotten at my induction anyway).
So I got admitted to the hospital and put in a delivery room. I got hooked up to all kinds of machines. At about 2 am, my contractions were SO painful. I am a huge baby and couldn't handle the first stage contractions and I got my epidural. Still at only 1cm.
Greg's parents drove all night to be at the hospital and when the arrived I still hadn't progressed much. So we sent them to our house where my parents were impatiently waiting/sleeping also. It wasn't until late morning/early afternoon that things started to get real. Even though I had an epidural and the pain was taken away, I could still all the pressure of contractions and baby moving down. I went from 4 cm to 10 cm in about 3.5 hours and then baby girl was so low that it was time to push.
With assistance from Greg and the nurse and almost 2 hours of pushing, baby girl arrived! (It took two hours because baby's head got stuck on the way out). As soon as baby arrived, she was give a basic clean up, suctioned out airways then she was given to me. Her and I hung out while nurses and doctor got me all cleaned up. And I decided on her name. As soon as I saw all her blonde hair and round face, I knew she was Alexandria! She had just become the new love of our lives! Greg cut her cord and checked on her while she got cleaned up and then he went out to tell the impatiently waiting grandparents that she is here and what her name is.
Alexandria Kristen, weighed 8 pounds 4oz and is 20.5 inches long. Quite a bit heavier than I had expected but she is perfect!
We came home the day after she was born and we are adjusting to life with baby. And trying to figure out feedings and sleeping. Our kitties are trying to figure what just happened and what's with all the noise.
We are so happy and love Alex to pieces. All the grandparents are trying to take turn holding her, while they are all in town.
We love our little miracle!
